Bearcats the No. 1 rushing team in NCAA Division III

When Willamette rushed for 468 yards last Saturday in a 30-23
win at Pacific Lutheran, it propelled the Bearcats to the top spot
in NCAA Division III rushing.

Through eight games, WU (5-3) is now averaging 370.4 yards per
game rushing. Salisbury (Md.) University was the national leader
last week until rushing for only 158 yards Saturday. Salisbury
(8-0) is now No. 2, averaging 359.9 yards per game.

In addition to leading the nation in rushing, Willamette is also
ranked No. 9 in total offense (471.5) and scoring offense
(41.8).

Since Willamette adopted the ‘Fly’ offense full-time in 1995,
under then-assistant coach and now head coach Mark Speckman, the
Bearcats have rushed for more than 425 yards five times — all on
artificial turf.

Willamette ran for a school-record 530 yards in a 1996 national
playoff game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. One year later during
Willamette’s storied 1997 season (13-1), the Bearcats broke the
school record again with a 554-yard performance in a national
playoff game at Parker Stadium in Corvallis. And at Lewis &
Clark College in Portland, the Bearcats rushed for 538 yards in
1999 and 441 yards in 2001.